A Texan conservative Anglican -- yes, a square peg -- ponders both churchly and worldly things and enjoys his new church.

Monday, December 09, 2013

About the Collect for the 2nd Sunday in Advent

First I should say that I downright revere Thomas Cranmer’s
Book of Common Prayer.Long time
readers remember that traditional Anglican liturgy was key in luring me to
Anglicanism.And I think his
collect for the 2nd Sunday in Advent, an original composition by Cranmer, is an excellent one.For those who don’t have a BCP handy it
reads:

BLESSED
Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant
that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest
them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever
hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in
our Saviour Jesus Christ.Amen.

But (And now I may have to duck.) I wish Cranmer
had not made this a collect in Advent.Yes, my wish is “a fond thing,” admittedly pointless.Nevertheless, I think a collect more
directly related to Christ’s Advent would have been more appropriate.In that regard, I like the Sarum
collect for Advent 2, translated:

Stir
up, O Lord, our hearts to prepare the way of Thy Only Begotten; that by His
coming we may be counted worthy to serve Thee with purified hearts.Who livest etc.

This collect has strong themes of Christ’s coming
and of our preparation and response to the same.And it echoes nicely the “Stir up” collect of the Sunday
Next Before Advent.

Cranmer’s collect just does not fit as well in
Advent in my not-so humble opinion.I think it would fit very well early in Trinity season.That long season of “ordinary time”
emphasizes our response of discipleship to the great things God has done
through Jesus Christ.And close
attention to His word is central to that.

But – let there be no misunderstanding – I am not
advocating so altering Cranmer’s work in public liturgy.Such a disruption to traditional
Anglican worship would not be worth it.And this collect is much beloved.I am sure a great many would not want it moved to a less prominent
place.

As for me, I intend to use both the Sarum and Cranmerian
collects in my personal Daily Office.